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Nanaimo Buccaneers hire new head coach and gm

Mar 30, 2017 | 12:15 PM

NANAIMO — A drastic change of course for the Nanaimo Buccaneers, who have hired a new head coach, following the most successful season in the organization’s history.

The VIJHL club has hired Trail Smoke Eaters assistant coach Curt Toneff, 23, as head coach and general manager. The surprising move follows a franchise-record 31 win regular season campaign under the guidance of second-year coach Dan Lemmon.

Bucs co-owner Phil Levesque told NanaimoNewsNOW it was a very difficult decision, which came down to needing a coach and general manager that could put in more hours.

“Dan couldn’t quit his job because he’s got a good job. It’s a decision we made, did we do it lightly? No way, because Dan was great for our organization, by far one of the best coaches we ever had.”

Levesque said he and his wife Brenda will continue owning the team, but will take a step back, meaning the Toneff will spend more time overseeing the operations of the organization.

“It was two choices, sell the team, or if we were going to stay I needed more help,” Levesque said. “Dan works full time for the City (of Nanaimo), he’s a classy guy, we talked it over and he said ‘you know what, it’s the right choice for you guys.’”

Toneff’s hometown is Nanaimo and he’s an alumni of the North Island Silvertips major-midget program.

After a well-traveled four-year junior career as a defenceman, Toneff spent the past two seasons with the Smoke Eaters (BCHL) coaching staff.

“I’m a young guy that wants to be a career coach, I have all of the time in the world for hockey and want to make a living out of it. I’ll put in all of the hours necessary to make the team successful.”

Toneff was an assistant coach with the Campbell River Storm when the dominant VIJHL team captured the Keystone Cup (Western Canadian Junior B Championship) in the 2014/15 season.

“I feel like I can relate to any player, the young rookie that wants to make junior A, because I was that guy. Maybe the 20-year-old that’s career is winding down and wants to win, I’ve also been that guy.”

Toneff said he has generated connections throughout B.C. that will help with recruiting. He credited Lemmon for strengthening the organization and plans to reach out to him to gain more knowledge about returning players.

Lemmon, who was named the VIJHL’s coach of the year just last month, said he’s disappointed about not returning behind the Bucs’ bench. He holds no hard feelings against the organization for moving in a new direction.

“We’ve mutually separated ways, I wish them all the best, for me I’ll take a bit of a break and decide what I want to do.”

 

ian.holmes@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @reporterholmes